The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-18
The Ancient Town Crowded by an Assemblage
Of Distinguished Men-I,etter from Low
ell and Poem BY DR.. 0. w. Holmes.
Eloquent and Appropriate Speeches by
Henry Irving and Minister Phelps.
The Alleged Unemployed Workingmen of
Trafalgar Square Indulge in Another Small
Riot-Trouble Brewing in the Far East.
MIR. CHILDs's GIFT.

| II.
Inauguration of the Shakespeare Memorial
Fountain Stratford- -on Avon
| LONDON. Oct 1.-THE inauguration of the
memorial fountain presented by Mr.. G. W.
Chlds. Of Philadelphia, to Stratford-on-Avon,
passed off under the brightest auspices. Never
has the old town celebrated a festive occasion
with more enthusiasm presented itself under
better aspect. The weather was perfect. The
last after-glow of summer suffused the antique
| tenements with softened light, and the streets
| were radiant with bunting draping the ancient
frontages and suspended in festoons along the
caves. No general holiday had been proclaimed
by the authorities. but the townsfolk. of their
own prompting, made holiday. The Mayor, Sir
Arthur Hodgson. had suggested a partial
suspension of business during the ceremonial,
but the event quite stirred the pulses Of the
people, and the day became q general jubilee.
| Public interest was much more than local. Wis
itors from London, Birmingham. and other
| populous centers were attracted. and contributed
to give Stratford Of the liveliest days in its
annals. Among the distinguished visitors were
United States Minister Phelps, Mr.. Henry
| Irving and Sir Theodore Martin, who arrived on
| Sunday. Mr.. Phelps left Inverary Castle on
| Saturday. coming south especially for the occa-
| sion. He the guest Of the Mayor. Mr.
| Irving, who finished his provincial tour in
| Liverpool on Saturday night. arrived on q spe-
| cial train Sunday, and became a guest OF Coun-
cilor Flower Lord Ronald Cover. Lord Della.
| ware Sir Theodore Martin. Sir Philip Cunlff
| Owen. and the Mayors Of Worcester. Litchfeld,
| Coventry, Warwick and bennington were
among the guests of the corporation.
At noon, all these, with many other visitors,
had assembled at the Town Hall, whence the
a ma Of tho or
attired in their official robes, marched in pro-
cession to the site of the memorial here there
had long been assembled-a large throng Of
townsfolk and strangers, who admired the
graceful proportions Of the fine structure which
now associates the name of Mr. Childs with the
history of Stratford on Avon. The crowd was
cleared back by guard of the local volunteer
corps, and square was formed within which
the ceremony was proceeded with. A large
marquee had been erected as precaution against
inclement weather. but it deserted for the
space around the fountain. The Mayor opened
the proceedings. He referred to the regrettablas
absence of MIR. James Russell Lowell He had.
however, received letter from Mr. Lowell
which would go home TO the hearts of all who
heard it and of the many more who would read
1t. The letter said:
should deeply regret my inability to be pres
ent at the interesting ceremonial of the 18th
not that my countrymen will be titly and ade
minister. Mr.. Phelps. The occasion is certainly
most interesting one. The monument which you ac-
aes the most marvellous of Englishmen and the iubi-
lee year of the august lady whose is honored
greatest master No symbol could more aptly serve
this double purpose than fountain, for surely
he, whether he was the author of the .Novum
Organum' also or not. Nor could the purity of her
the current that shall flow forever from the sources
opened he here re-. to-day Cheers t was Washington
the emotion which Stratford-on-Av awakes in the
heart of the pilgrim and especially of the American
pilgrim. who visits 1t. am glad to think that this
memorial should be the gift of American and thus
tions Joint heirs of the noble language and of
the genius that has given it cosmopolitan signif
plying signs that those two nations are beginning to
think more and more of the things in
less of those in which sAh they differ. [cSeers 5fss
common language is not indeed. the surest
stand whatever unpleasant thing the other may chance
to say about it.. As I am one of those who believe
lea is most desirable thing that we shall on
both sides think it equally desirable in intercourse
one with another make mother tongue search
her Golfers round for polished rather than the
sharp cornered eptbets she has stored there Let
by all speak the truth each other for there
is one else who can speak it either of us with
such forbeaance for the weak points of the other but
truth we love and not the discomfort infict
by of it. lcres of 'Hear!" ''HearlJ
other a and Of each sh>''' other . Whenever e we
conscientiously My friend, Mr. Childs, has said
one of these agreeable things in very solid and
durable way. A common literature and a common
spect for certain qualities of character of
meet in the assurance that shall find something
amiable in each other and from being less than kind
line Which Outlined British possessions in America
IS of s
in England laid down map yet he
such as conquest ever established and revolu-
ton overthrow. The dust that is sacred
speare make. walk before flesh and blood are his
no less than yours. These the ties which
like this They will yearly drawn closer as science
goes with her work of abolishing time and space
twxt dividable shores. which is so potent clear
away whatever is exclusive in nationality
of barberism in patriotism.
Enthusiastic cheers were given when ths
Mayor finished reading MIR. Lowels letter
The poet Whittier had also written a congras1
ulatory letter to Mr. Chiids in which he said
that the gift during the present year was hap
py thought connected with the Queens jub.
lice. and would go far toward atoning for foolish
American citizens. This portion of the letter
was received with cries of Hear" Hear
Looking at the memorial" continues the Mayor.
"every body must acknowledge that 1t ie a hand
some structure The manner in which the gift
was bestowed makes its acceptance q genuine
pleasure. Mr.. Childs. in numerous letters to
me, repeatedly said that expenses should
be spared. Money is no object he said: i wish
to present q gift to Shakspeare's town worthy OF
his great name Ihroughout, also, these letters
showed a spirit of affection for old England
The memorial proves the truth of the old saying
that blood is thicker than water 1t proves
that Americans proud Of our common heri-
taGe." ICheers In conclusion. the Mayor re-
'erred to the assistance rendered by DR.. V.
Macauley, who represented Mr.. Childs in ar
.anging the details of construction, and thanked
Mr. Phelps for mis- presence. The American
minister. he said, had travelled night and day in
'rder to be with them. [Cheers.l
Mr. Irving was greeted with cheers He said
10 had been requested to read a poem the work
II poet whose name was beloved wherever the
English language spoken Mr.. Oliver
Wendell Holmes had made the memorial the
ubject of these memorable verses:
Welcome, thrice welcome is thy silvery glean,
Thou long imprisoned stream
Welcome the tinkle of thy crystal beads
rs splashing raindrops to the fowery meads,